Air squeegee



United States Patent 3,518,713 AIR SQUEEGEE Edward I Krause. 20 Meadow Wood Road, Trumbull, Conn. 06611 Filed Apr. 10, 1968, Ser. No. 720,088 Int. Cl. B08b /02 US. Cl. -306 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An air squeegee for removing liquid from a moving film. Orifice blocks are pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the film, and direct air jets at obtuse angles toward the film, substantially countercurrent to the direction of film movement. The blocks are individually urged toward the film by separate springs, permitting unequal spring biasing. Each block includes two jet orifices, one of which has a fixed minimum width. The trailing edges of the orifices are recessed to protect the film. A screw is mounted on the squeegee in the plane of the film and parallel to the axis thereof, to symmetrically adjust the blocks.

The invention relates to a squeegee for removing liquid from a moving film, such as movie film in the developing process. More particularly, it relates to a squeegee using air jets for removing liquid from the film.

Removing liquid from films by air jets is known, as typified by Baumbach 3,040,361. With known constructions, it is difficult to adjust the squeegee for most efficient operation, and in some cases the film is exposed to damage from a sharp edge of the orifice.

With known constructions, it is also difficult to adjust the gap between orifices without disturbing the alignment of the orifices with respect to the film. Also the force urging-the orifice blocks toward the film cannot be individually adjusted to compensate for the eflects of the gravity in different mounting positions.

These and other disadvantages of the prior art are avoided with the construction according to the present invention, wherein the orifice blocks support a plurality of orifices adjacent the film. Preferably each orifice block has one orifice of fixed dimensions and another orifice of adjustable dimensions The trailing edges of the orifices are recessed to avoid injuring the film. The blocks are urged together by independent springs which may have differing tensions to compensate for different positions in which the squeegee might be mounted. A screw axially adjustable in the plane of the film permits symmetrical adjustment of the gap between the blocks without disturbing their relatible alignment with respect to the film.

Accordingly, a primary object is to provide an air squeegee for efficiently removing liquid from a moving film.

A further object is to provide a squeegee of the above character including opposed orifices of fixed dimensions.

A further object is to provide an air squeegee of the above character including opposed adjustable orifices combined with opposed fixed orifices.

A further object is to provide a squeegee of the above character wherein the adjustable orifices are spaced closer to the film than the fixed orifices.

A further object is to provide a squeegee of the above character wherein the orifices are defined by blocks independently resiliently urged toward the film.

A further object is to provide a squeegee of the above character including means for symmetrically adjusting the spacing between opposed orifices.

A further object is to provide a squeegee of the above Patented July 7, 1970 character wherein the trailing edges of the orifices are recessed to avoid damage to the film.

Other and more specific objects will be apparent from the features, elements, combinations and operating procedures disclosed in the following detailed description and shown in the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view; partly in section, of the preferred squeegee according to the invention, showing the film moving upward between the squeegee blocks;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 in FIG. 1, showing the face of one squeegee block;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of the squeegee shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the blades or plates which define the orifices.

Referring generally to FIG. 1, squeegee 20 removes liquid from film 22 moving vertically along its axis adjacent the inside of wall 24 of a processing tank containing liquid, such as a developing bath. As film 22 moves upwardly past squeegee 20, air jets are directed against the opposite sides of film 22, with a directional component countercurrent to the movement of the film, to remove the liquid therefrom.

Squeegee 20 includes vertical frame plate 26 attached to wall 24 by mounting screws 28. A pair of pivot pins 30 and 31 are mounted on frame plate 26 and extend horizontally therefrom on opposite sides of and equally spaced from film 22. Orifice blocks 32 and 34 as pivotally mounted on pins 30 and 31 respectively, and extend upwardly therefrom to terminate in respective upper free ends 36 and 38 resiliently urged toward one another by separate springs 40 and 42.

Orifice blocks 32 and 34 are mirror images: accordingly, only block 32 will be described in detail. Block 32 includes inner surfaces 44 and 46 intersecting to form an obtuse solid angle having its apex 48 nearest film 22. A plenum chamber 50 formed in block 32 communicates with surfaces 44 and 46 on opposite sides of apex 48, and is supplied with compressed air through flexible tube 52, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Two transversely elongated orifices are defined by blade-like plates mounted on block 32 by mounting screws 54. As shown in FIG. 2, plates 56 and 58 are fixedly mounted on surface 46, below apex 48 and spanning chamber 50. Adjacent surfaces of plates 56 and 58 are bevelled (FIGS. 1 and 5) and spaced apart slightly to define a first fixed orifice 60 directed at an obtuse angle downwardly and against film 22. Plate 58 is thinner than plate 56, so that its sharp leading edge 62 (which defines the trailing edge of orifice 60) is further from film 22 than edge 63 of plate 56. Since edge 63 is the apex of an obtuse angle, accidental contact therewith by film 22 is less likely to damage the film than would contact with sharp edge 62.

Plate 58 extends upwardly to terminate in the vicinity of apex 48 in an upper surface 64 generally parallel to the lower surface of plate 58. A third plate 66 is mounted on surface 46 by screws 54 extending through elongated slots 68 formed in plate 66. Adjacent surfaces of plates 58 and 66 define a second transversely elongated orifice 70 whose width can be selected by the adjustment of plate 66 permitted by slots 68. Orifice 70 has its axis directed at an obtuse angle downwardly and toward film 22.

Plate 66 has surface 72 bevelled so that the sharp leading edge 74 of plate 66 (which defines the trailing edge of orifice 70) is recessed or positioned further from film 22 than edge 76 of plate 58, regardless of the setting of plate 66. This protects film 22 from accidental damage o by edge 74, similar to the protection afforded by recessing of edge 62.

Provision of two pairs of cooperating orifices, rather than the one pair previously known in the art, affords several advantages. Since fixed orifices 60 can be selected to remove most or substantially all of the liquid from film 22, a certain minimum squeegeeing action is achieved even when adjustable orifice 70 are completely closed. This facilitates initial adjustment of orifices 70. Furthermore, film 22 can be dried to a given degree with less air consumption when using two pairs of opposed jets than when using only one pair.

As noted above, blocks 32 and 34 are independently resiliently urged toward one another by separate springs 40 and 42. Thus, spring 40 includes a central coil section (FIG. 2) wound on pivot pin 30, and an end 78 (FIG. 1) bearing against the back or outer surface of block 32. The other end 80 of spring 40 bears against frame plate 26. Spring 40 accordingly urges block 32 in the clockwise direction, while spring 42 similarly urges block 34 in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1. Since springs 40 and 42 are separate elements, one may be made stronger to compensate for the effects of gravity if squeegee 20 is oriented to remove liquid from a film 22 moving in a direction other than vertical.

The spacing between the upper ends 36 and 38 of the orifice blocks can be adjusted symmetrically with respect to film 22, according to another aspect of the invention. An adjustable screw 82 is threaded into frame plate 26, and has its axis in the plane of film 22 and parallel to the axis of the film. Tabs 84 on plates 56 engage the upper end 86 of screw 82. This permits precise symmetrical adjustment of the spacing of the orifices with respect to the film, by merely turning screw 82. As illustrated, screw 82 preferably extends entirely through frame plate 26 and has both ends adapted for cooperation with a screwdriver or other tool, to facilitate access for adjustment regardless of the orientation of squeegee 20.

It may be seen from the above specification and the accompanying drawing that the disclosed squeegee provides for improved efficiency by the use of pairs of opposed orifices spaced axially along the path of film travel. Since one pair of orifices has fixed dimensions, a certain minimum squeegeeing efiiciency is provided even if the adjustable orifices are entirely closed. Recessing the trailing edges of the orifices prevents accidental damage to the film, while independently springing the two orifice blocks permits compensation for differing orientations of the squeegee assembly.

While the objects of the invention are efiiciently achieved by the preferred forms of the invention described in the foregoing specification, the invention also includes changes and variations falling within and between the definitions of the following claim.

1. A squeegee for removing liquid from a film moving along 'its axis in a plane, said squeegee comprising:

(A) avertical frame plate mounted alongside the path of said film;

(B) first and second parallel pivot pins mounted on said frame plate, said pins being equally spaced from said film on opposite sides of said film plane, said pins being perpendicular to said frame plate and parallel to said film plane;

(C) first and second orifice assemblies pivotally mounted at their lower ends on said first and second pins, respectively; each said orifice assembly comprising a block member having a first inner surface opposed to said film plane and a second inner surface inclined away from said film plane extending upwardly and outwardly from the upper end of said first inner surface and defining therewith an obtuse angle apex extending transversely of said block member, and said block member having a compressed air receiving chamber having first and second outlet passages respectively in communication with said first and second inner surfaces at points below and above said apex; first and second plate members fixedly secured one above the other upon said first inner surface in spanning relation to said first outlet passage of said chamber and having their adjacent end surfaces in spaced relation to each other to provide a first onifice in communication at its inner end with said first outlet passage of said chamber, whereby air is directed from its outer end against said film, and the upper end surface of said second plate member having its inner edge above said apex; and a third plate member mounted on said inclined second inner surface of said block member with a portion of its under surface in opposed relation to said upper end surface of said second plate member to provide a second orifice in communication at its inner end with said second outlet passage of said chamber, and said third plate member being adjustable toward and away from the said upper end surface of said second plate member to adjust the size of said second orifice; and

(D) means resiliently biassing the upper ends of said assemblies toward said film plane.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,575,526 3/1926 Bocher.

1,739,593 12/1929 Inglefield et al. 15-306.1 3,040,361 6/1962 Baumbach 15306.1 X 3,108,311 10/1963 House 15-394X ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

